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Black Country father and son jailed after vicious attack

A RESPECTED Netherton businessman and his son have been jailed after they took part in a vicious gang attack on two men they suspected had broken into their Brierley Hill firm.

Walter Smith and his 23-year-old son Wayne were armed with a wooden club and an iron bar when they decided to "take the law into their own hands".

Recorder Stuart Sprawson at Wolverhampton Crown Court told 57-year-old Smith that "without clear evidence" he had come to the conclusion that Mark Roberts and his employee Peter Dunn were behind the raid.

This was despite having been on good terms with Mr Roberts, whose own business was close to the premises used by Smith on the industrial estate in Brettell Lane.

The Recorder said: "Rather than consult the police you took the law into your own hands."

He said Smith had the wooden club while his son carried a metal bar and they went along with a number of other men to Roberts Automotive and gained access to the premises where they seriously assaulted Mr Roberts and Mr Dunn and demanded money.

Nazneen Sultan, prosecuting, said both victims suffered serious bruising and swelling and also had to have stitches for their wounds.